Susten, Furka + Grimselpass with bus – Berner Oberland Pass validity
A traveler plans to stay in Wengen for 8 days and is looking for advice on a day trip using the PostBus route 684, which covers the Susten, Furka, and Grimsel passes, starting from Meiringen. They are curious about the fare for the segment between Grimsel and Susten, as it isn't listed on the relevant websites.
- Check the SBB timetable for the fare between Grimsel and Susten; it's CHF 30.50 at half fare.
- It's recommended to buy tickets in advance from ticket machines or counters instead of relying on drivers.
- Make a reservation for the PostBus to ensure a seat, especially for scenic routes.
AI-generated summary-
Greetings,
I will be based in Wengen for 8 days as part of a longer trip to Switzerland. I will be in possession of a Bernese Oberland Pass along with a Half Fare Card.
I plan to have a day trip with the PostBus (route 684) from Meiringen. This is the route that covers the mountain passes of Susten, Furka, and Grimsel, starting and ending in Meiringen. The regular price is listed as 119.20 CHF and the half fare price as 59.60 CHF.
Question: The Bernese Oberland Regional Travel Pass website says that the part between Meiringen and Grimsel as well as the part between Susten and Meiringen is free of charge. This means that I only have to pay for the part between Grimsel and Susten. However, I couldn’t find the cost of this. Neither the website of PostBus nor that of the Bernese Oberland Travel Pass mentions this. Where can I find this? I tried to find it from the SBB app. However, it only shows the bus route B 161 & B 162 on this path. I think this is different. I need Route 684. Can someone shed light on this? Thanks.
-
Hi DavidQ, and welcome to MySwissAlps!
With the Berner Oberland Pass (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/berner-oberland-pass/), you can get a ticket for the sector between the Susten Pass and the Grimsel Pass at half fare.
You can get the price from the SBB timetable by putting in Susten Passhöhe to Grimsel Passhöhe via Andermatt and Gletsch, Post. (Use the Settings link to add lines for entering the via stops.)
The fare is based on the route. Which bus or combination of buses you use to traverse the route is not relevant to the fare. Be aware that the SBB timetable shows half fare by default, which in this case is CHF 30.50, so that is the price applicable in your case.
I did that trip in September 2019 and can highly recommend it. I would also recommend making a reservation, which you can do here:
https://www.postauto.ch/en/leisure-offers/excursion-tips/mountain-pass-routes-in-the-central-alps
A reservation doesn’t allocate you a specific seat, but does guarantee you will have a seat. I would be at the departure point outside Meiringen station well before the departure time, so that you can be among the first to board and hopefully secure a window seat.
A great way of getting to Meiringen is with Grindelwald Bus / Postbus over the Grosse Scheidegg (a fabulous trip).
Enjoy your trip over the Susten, Furka and Grimsel passes! (You probably already know that this route only runs until 6 October.) There is a bit more info here that might come in handy:
https://www.myswissalps.com/community/thread/three-passes-tour-by-post-bus/#post-1681452
Alpenrose
Thank you so much for the detailed response, Alpenrose.
Just a quick question. If I decided to pay the CHF 30.50 to the driver directly, rather than purchasing a ticket through the SBB app, how would that work? Would the driver accept cash or card, or both? Thanks.
Hi DavidQ,
A limited range of tickets is available for purchase directly from postbus drivers.
I recommend buying your tickets in advance. You can also purchase directly from the ticket machines or staffed railway stations.
You can information about regular point-to-point tickets here: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/regular-ticket/
Regards,
Anna
Hi David Q,
>>> If I decided to pay the CHF 30.50 to the driver directly, rather than purchasing a ticket through the SBB app, how would that work? Would the driver accept cash or card, or both?
If you want to pay a person directly, rather than buy from a ticket machine or app, I would buy your ticket at the ticket counter in Meiringen station.
I can’t remember whether people can also board that bus through the centre doors, but if they do, by the time you have finished lining up at the front and buying your ticket from the driver, you might find all the window seats have been occupied by people who already have a ticket or pass. It will depend on how busy the bus is of course, but that is a trip for which you definitely want a window seat!
Hope this helps!
Alpenrose
I have a lot of experience travelling on Swiss buses, and I would strongly support everything Alpenrose is saying. I am not very good with Apps, so I would buy my ticket at the ticket counter at Meiringen. And I would not be put off by the fact that the ticket counter at Meiringen is run by the Railway company! That counter can and will sell bus tickets.
Best wishes on your travels
Roger.
- The thread ‘Susten, Furka + Grimselpass with bus – Berner Oberland Pass validity’ is closed to new replies.
